A very big Thank You to everyone who responded (both on- and off-list
and even by phone) to my post about the trim control not working when
I picked the plane up from the painter. Although I'm still waiting
for the new wire to arrive, I feel confident now, with all of the
detailed steps and tips that you all provided, I'll be able to remove
the old wire and perhaps able to insert the new one, with my
mechanically-inclined helper, if there's nothing wrong with the wire
housing. Both of the mechanics who usually work on my plane are out
of town or otherwise unavailable until after the 28th or later, but
I'm planning to do the wire removal at the El Monte field of the
mechanic who did the last couple of annuals, and if I don't succeed
in getting the new wire in, with his permission, to leave the plane
there for his return. He also said if I do succeed, he will inspect
and sign it off.
Update: I went to the painter's airport this morning to look again,
get answers to some of the Qs you all asked, and to ask him some Qs
as well. I found that
(1) the trim tab stop and spring are still in place and seem ok
(although both were painted);
(2) I was able to wiggle the trim tab itself with my fingers just
enough that it does not appear from what I can presently see or feel
to have been frozen by being painted;
(3) my plane does indeed have the removable fairing between tail
cone and horiz. stabilizer that Hartmut pointed out, and the rear
wire housing connection is indeed under that, i.e. mine isn't one of
those whose wire housing is all one piece extending throughout the
plane;
(4) I was able to easily rotate the last couple of inches of the
wire housing around the trim wire, using just my fingers, so at
least that part of the wire is not frozen into its housing, and the
problem is farther upstream;
(5) I got the painter to describe to me what his assistant did to
remove the elevator and put it back. Basically, they disconnected
the wire at its back end, then slipped the elevator off around it,
and put the elevator back the same way. He looked a little surprised
when I said (as Lynn & Hartmut explained) there's a clamp part way
between where the rear segment of housing connects and where the wire
exits at the back, and that clamp holds the housing in place. So if
I can't get the new wire to go all the way in, I'm guessing that
possibly during the R&R of the elevator, the housing may have become
kinked in some way to prevent the free travel of the wire. We'll
see. And I will keep you all posted.
One other issue came up while I was there. I noticed the poor
condition of one of those multiple-fuzzy-wires ("bonding strap"?? not
sure of correct term) that I remember as usually living in the bottom
hinge of each rudder and in the middle hinge of the elevator. The
painter said he had one or two more that came off my plane that were
completely separated apart, but he couldn't tell me where they came
from. (aileron?) Is there a list somewhere of exactly where we are
supposed to have those?
Thanks again, everyone! You all posted great ideas on the trim wire
problem, gave wonderfully clear and detailed explanations, and I
learned a lot in the process. I feel like my 'Coupe & I have a
couple dozen guardian angels online! Ercoupe Tech List Rocks!!
Linda
N3437H (Sky Sprite)
L.A.
